Is Old West Mythology Dead?

“The fascination with the Old West will never die.” -John Wayne

The mythology of the Old West has been denigrated by the people who set the literary fashion. They say it is idealized, simplistic, tiresome and, above all, false. The good ones were never so good. Frontiersmen and settlers displaced the nobles who already occupied the land. Rough immigrants arrived in droves to desecrate a pristine desert. The heroic acts praised usually involved vigilantism, which offends those who respect the rule of law.

The same mythology escapes in fantasy and science fiction, so why is it disparaged in westerns? They are all made up stories, but morality plays in these other genres find acceptance. The battle between good and evil, selfless sacrifice, idealized heroism, and venturing away from home are popular themes in extremely popular genres. Few doubt that the Harry Potter series, The Lord of the Rings, or the work of Arthur C. Clarke and HG Wells are respectable literature. It could be argued that similar themes are even reflected in nursery rhymes. Could it be the difference that the Old West really happened?

Before answering this question, we must take another look at the mythology of the Old West. It’s about more than just paladins throwing weapons. There are three main elements, with many tributaries. The first is the romance of a new beginning. The second is the battle of good against evil. The last element is the lone warrior who sets things right.

The West, outer space, the future, or an imaginary land represents a new beginning in a new place far from home: the shrug of the shoulders at disappointments and the chance to start over. The romance and adventure of frontiers attracts people desperate to escape the toil of their current existence. We have seen it in real life with the migrations to the New World and the Old West, but today many people satisfy this longing vicariously with fiction. If you are poor, your family makes you miserable, you have committed an act that offends society, or wanderlust has taken over, then the adventure and limitless opportunity of a frontier beckons to you like a song. siren. Migrating to a border means living again in a land without rules, without fences, without referees.

Real life is a gray scale, somewhat skewed towards the darker side of the spectrum. A new life would not appeal to us if we had to bring our old baggage, so we see our new world in black and white. There is strength in righteousness, perseverance and risk are rewarded, good people do the right thing and bad people get what they deserve. This is a world of hope. Hope for the rich, hope for justice, hope for a different path in life. Good fights evil and good always wins. This is a theme that has been part of the narrative in all societies since the first cave drawings.

We know that we are weak, so the good needs help. A raw border is dangerous. The elements and carnivorous animals threaten at every turn. People fight mercilessly to claim a piece of land for themselves. No civilization means there are no restrictions on bad people doing bad things. Help comes in the form of an idealized hero, possibly an antihero who overcomes his moral shortcomings to help the innocent. This person is often visualized as a lone warrior, like the one praised by Tom Wolfe in The Right Stuff. The hero is capable of violent actions, but basically he is good. The gunslinger in westerns wears a simple solution on his hip. Frodo has the ring and Potter has his wand. In these mythical realms, the hero risks his life to save the day and demands nothing in return.

Western mythology seduces us because it promises a world different from ours. Hard work is rewarded. We have freedom of movement with horses and trains. We get vicarious revenge against the unpleasant people in our lives. And rich. Wealth comes from the land and the land is free. The whole package is wrapped in idealized virtues that make us feel safe and hopeful. And we can experience it all by reading in our favorite armchair.

Which brings us back to our question. Are these themes less acceptable in westerns because the Old West really existed?

Yes.

History shows that the idealized border was a myth. No matter how attractive the subject, this gives fantasy and science fiction a great advantage, which is not limited by reality. In the real Old West, the bad guys often won. More accurately, the strong and stubborn won, often using intimidation tactics. In the harsh real world, Native Americans were defeated by hordes of pioneers. The miners raked the surface of the beautiful landscape and then ran away when there was no more easy money. Historical records make it easy for someone to say, “But it didn’t.” Does this mean that Western mythology is inappropriate for fiction?

No.

Authors, however, must treat westerns as historical fiction. Larry McMurtry and Cormac McCarthy already do. They tell stories that incorporate elements of Western mythology, but use gradation in their plots and nuance stereotypical plots. His books are full of realistic characters and got the facts right. Fantasy and science fiction can get away with it in an idealized binary world, but Westerns must cut across the 19th-century border with realism and respect for the genuine experience of pioneers and Native Americans.